HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, July 11: As a result of extensive deforestation in the Upper Dehing Forest Reserve under Digboi Forest Division, wild elephants have begun venturing into residential areas in Margherita sub-division in search of food. Instances of these elephants damaging houses have become frequent, leading to tragic fatalities among local residents from trampling incidents.
On Wednesday night, a herd of wild elephants came from the Upper Dehing forest reserve area and vandalised houses in Niz Makum village, Ward No 6, under Bhittorpowai Gaon Panchayat of Margherita, 83rd Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC).
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The houses belong to Sukmon Proja, Rajen Proja, Promila Proja, and Hunkon Konwar, permanent residents of Niz Makum Ward No 6 of Bhittorpowai Gaon Panchayat under Margherita LAC in Tinsukia district.
Rajen Proja stated that due to rampant deforestation of precious trees in the Upper Dehing Reserve Forest area under Digboi Forest Division, wild elephants entered our residential areas on Wednesday night in search of food and vandalised our houses. Fortunately, we managed to escape with our family members.
Rajen Proja expressed concern that within a few years, the entire Upper Dehing forest reserve area will be cleared due to rampant deforestation. This could lead to wild elephants residing in residential areas and vandalising houses. He blamed the divisional forest officer T C Ranjith Ram of Digboi Forest Division and the concerned department officials for failing to control illegal deforestation of precious trees in the forest reserve areas of Tinsukia district.
